Saudis to talk on live exports

What kind of world are we living in when attempts to improve the treatment of and reduce the cruelty to other animals is viewed as extreme and problematic; where producers are tripping over themselves to send the animals they have raised and supposedly cared for to any market that will have them, regardless of those markets' willingness to accept and adhere to very basic standards for the "humane" handling and slaughter of livestock (if you can ever call cutting an animal's throat whilst fully conscious "humane").

The countries we export to (including Saudi Arabia) are all members of OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) and yet balk at having to be seen to comply with OIE standards and allow traceability of animals into approved and audited slaughterhouses only.

Saudi sees ESCAS, which requires adherence to the very low OIE standards as "frustrating" - I find their acceptance of cruelty to and abuse of animals more than "frustrating" - it is unacceptable, as it is in any other country that slaughters animals for food, and those who don't embrace the opportunity to lessen suffering and improve welfare for these animals should be the first countries crossed of the list of acceptable destinations, on the road to the end to live animal exports. K Love